Antony and Cleopatra, Act 1, Scene 1

Nay, but this dotage of our general’s O’erflows the measure. Those his goodly eyes, That o’er the files and musters of the war Have glowed like plated Mars, now bend, now turn The office and devotion of their view Upon a tawny front. His captain’s heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsy’s lust.

No, but this infatuation of our general's goes beyond all bounds. Those fine eyes of his, which used to blaze like Mars in his armour over the ranks and parades of the army, now lower themselves, now turn the duty and worship of their gaze on a brown face. His commander's heart, which in the struggle of great battles has burst the buckles on his breastplate, denies all self-control and has become the bellows and the fan to cool a wandering woman's lust.

Look where they come: Take but good note, and you shall see in him The triple pillar of the world transform’d Into a strumpet’s fool. Behold and see.

Look, here they come. Just pay close attention and you'll see in him one of the three pillars holding up the world turned into a whore's plaything. Look and see.

If it be love indeed, tell me how much.

If it really is love, tell me how much.

There’s beggary in the love that can be reckoned.

Love that can be counted up is poor love.

I’ll set a bourn how far to be beloved.

I'll fix a limit on how far I can be loved.

Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.

Then you'll have to discover a new heaven and a new earth.

News, my good lord, from Rome.

News, my good lord, from Rome.

Grates me, the sum.

It irritates me. Give me the gist.

Nay, hear them, Antony. Fulvia perchance is angry; or who knows If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate to you: “Do this or this; Take in that kingdom and enfranchise that. Perform’t, or else we damn thee.”

No, listen to the news, Antony. Maybe Fulvia is angry; or who knows whether the barely bearded Caesar hasn't sent you his mighty order: "Do this or that; conquer that kingdom and set that one free. Do it, or we condemn you."

How, my love?

What do you mean, my love?

Perchance! Nay, and most like. You must not stay here longer; your dismission Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony. Where’s Fulvia’s process?—Caesar’s I would say? Both? Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt’s queen, Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine Is Caesar’s homager; else so thy cheek pays shame When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!

Maybe! No — more likely certainly. You must not stay here any longer; your discharge has come from Caesar; so hear it, Antony. Where is Fulvia's summons? — Caesar's, I should say. Both? Call in the messengers. As surely as I am Egypt's queen, you are blushing, Antony, and that blood of yours pays homage to Caesar; or else your cheek is paying out shame when shrill-voiced Fulvia scolds you. The messengers!

Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space. Kingdoms are clay. Our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man. The nobleness of life Is to do thus [Embracing]; when such a mutual pair And such a twain can do’t, in which I bind, On pain of punishment, the world to weet We stand up peerless.

Let Rome dissolve in the Tiber, and let the broad arch of the well-ordered empire collapse! Here is where I belong. Kingdoms are nothing but clay. Our filthy earth feeds animal and man alike. The noblest thing in life is to do this [He embraces her], when such a matched couple, such a pair, can do it — and I command the world, under threat of punishment, to acknowledge that we stand unrivalled.

Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her? I’ll seem the fool I am not. Antony Will be himself.

What a splendid lie! Why did he marry Fulvia if he didn't love her? I'll act the fool I'm not. Antony will be true to himself.

But stirred by Cleopatra. Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, Let’s not confound the time with conference harsh. There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?

Only when Cleopatra rouses him. Now, for the sake of Love herself and her tender hours, let's not waste the occasion with harsh argument. Not one minute of our lives should pass now without some pleasure. What entertainment tonight?

Hear the ambassadors.

Hear the ambassadors.

Fie, wrangling queen! Whom everything becomes—to chide, to laugh, To weep; whose every passion fully strives To make itself, in thee fair and admired! No messenger but thine, and all alone Tonight we’ll wander through the streets and note The qualities of people. Come, my queen, Last night you did desire it. Speak not to us.

Come now, you quarrelsome queen! Everything suits you — scolding, laughing, weeping; every one of your moods struggles hard to show itself beautiful and admired in you! No messengers but yours, and tonight, just the two of us, we'll wander through the streets and observe the ways of people. Come, my queen, last night you wanted it. Don't speak to me.

Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?

Does Antonius value Caesar so cheaply?

Sir, sometimes when he is not Antony, He comes too short of that great property Which still should go with Antony.

Sir, sometimes when he isn't himself, he falls far short of that great quality that should always belong to Antony.

I am full sorry That he approves the common liar who Thus speaks of him at Rome, but I will hope Of better deeds tomorrow. Rest you happy!

I'm very sorry that he proves right the common gossip that talks about him this way in Rome, but I'll hope for better actions from him tomorrow. Goodbye, and may you be happy!